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Pedestrian and cycling fatalities down nationwide

AUGUSTA | A recent report shows that numbers of pedestrians and cyclists struck by vehicles nationwide have declined drastically over the past 30 years. Georgia and South Carolina, however, rank among the worst in the country for pedestrian and cycling fatality rates.

Last week, the Alliance for Biking & Walking released its biennial report for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after collecting and analyzing data from all 50 states on a multitude of walking- and cycling-related studies, some of which include the amount of crash fatalities per 10,000 walkers and cyclists in a given state.

The report found that about 11.4 percent of trips taken nationwide are by bicycle or foot. Nearly 15 percent of roadway fatality victims, however, are pedestrians and cyclists.

In 2011, about 14.2 pedestrian fatalities were reported per one million in population, which is down from 35.5 per one million in 1980. In the same time span, the fatality rate for cyclists was cut in half to about 2.2 fatalities per million.

Vermont reports the fewest pedestrian fatalities of all states with 2.2 fatalities per 10,000 walking commuters. Georgia ranks No. 44 and South Carolina ranks No. 47 with 23.1 and 24.6 per 10,000, respectively.

According to the report, Georgia ranked No. 43 with 18.3 fatalities per 10,000 cyclists, and South Carolina ranked No. 45 with 21.2. Montana topped the list for fewest cycling fatalities with just one per every 10,000 cycling commuters.

Jim Ellington, a member of cycling advocacy group Wheel Movement CSRA, said there is a certain portion of cyclists in the area who are considered “cyclists by necessity.” Those who fall into this category use bicycles as their main mode of transportation, but may not be as keen on laws pertaining to cycling in Georgia, ultimately putting them at risk.

“From time to time I’ll see people out there who are dressed in very dark clothing at night,” Ellington said. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense. You need to dress in high-visibility colors.”

In an attempt to lower cycling fatality rates throughout the area, Ellington said, Wheel Movement CSRA will sponsor classes throughout the year in each of the surrounding counties to teach novice cyclists how to navigate high-traffic areas. The group is also working to create a video public service announcement to educate cyclists and motorists on rules of the road.

“We’re trying to make cycling as safe as we can, not just for the cyclist, but for the motorists out there as well,” he said. “Nobody wants to be in a situation where you’ve hit someone in your motor vehicle.”